lowrey



gt igs gatguit R. 0. LOWREY, OFYSALEM, NEWOYORK.

Letters Patent No. 78,108, dated May 19, 1868'.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WATER-PROOF FABRICS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, R'. O. LOWREY, of Salem, in the county of Washington, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Making New Water-Proof Fabric; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

My invention relates to water-proof fabric, and consists of certain new and useful improvements in the manner of melting the same, by combining cloth and paper in various ways, a'i preparing and treating -it as hereinafter explained.

The water-proofing of the fabric, or of the materials of which it is composed, may be efi'ected in various ways, but I prefer the process heretofore described by me in .my application for a patent for rendering fabrics water-proof, passed for issue, November12, 1867 andalso in my patent for similar purpose, dated December 10, 1867, No. 71,893, and which consists in treating the fabric with a gelatinous or saponaceous compound,

and then treating it with a solution of salt and alum.

To prepare my improved water-proof fabric, the cloth may first be rendered water-proofby the process above referred to, and the paper, being treated ina similar manner, may then be ccmentedto the cloth by means of the gelatinous compound, and, after being passed between rolls, or otherwise compressed,the whole is then immersed in a solution of salt and slum,"'after which-i1; is to be washed and dried, when it-isready-forum. Or, the cloth, after being water-proofed, may have the paper-pulp mixed with the gelatinous compound formed upon it, and subsequently treated with the solution of salt and alum.

Or, the cloth may be taken in its natural condition, without being subjected to the wntersproofing process, and the paper-pulp, mixed with the gelatinous compound, be run or spread upon it, so as to saturate the cloth with it, and cause the pulp to adherev to it, and then the whole be subjected to the action of the salt and alum solution.

Or, when it is desired to use dock or other fibrous material not woven into or with the-cloth, the paper may be taken in its natural state, and, after being saturated with the gelatinous compound, the debit or fibre maybe applied thereto in any of the usual methods, and the whole then treated with the salt and alum solution, and

thus rendered thoroughly water-proof.

Or, if preferred, the cloth may be first rendered water-proof, sud then-cemented to ordinary paper by" means of the gelatinous compound, and, after being compressed, then the whole be" submitted to the action of the salt and alum solution, as described above.

Or, the cloth and paper may be water-proofed separately, and then united by means of the gelatinous compound, and then be treated with the salt and alum solution, or by the use of rubber or other suitable cement.

In all cases where the gelatinous compound and the astringent solution are used separately, they may, if desired, be mixed together in the first instance, and then the mixture be allowed to stand and settle. this is done, the liquid may be poured oil, and the sediment deposited from the mix-turemay be rendered soft,

and of any desired consistency, by the addition of water and the application of heat, and used in c'sses where leather and cloth, or leather, cloth, and paper, or cloth and paper,

the gelatinous compound and the astringent solution are proposed to be used separately. As my purpose is to make a new water-proof fabric by the union of fibrous materials of different kinds,

and subjecting them, separately or together, to my solution,

making them together of any desired'thick ness, and arranging them so that the one suitable for the outside or the inside of the fabric may be so placed,

having reference to the special use for which the fabric may be intended.

In the combination of these different fibrous materials, andin the process of making the combination waterproof, the materials may be given different forms and shapes, so as to embrace many of the uses and purposes for which it is especially designed.

My new water-proof fabric may be used for very many useful purposes, but is especially suitable fo the Afterfor some purposes I combine leather and paper, or

manufacture of bed-ticks, mattresses, coverings, cushions .wagon-covers,- table-covers, blankets of all kinds, wearing-apparel, life-preervers, vessels for holding liquids, bags of all kinds, both for mail and other purposes, belting, trunks, .vali'ses, umbrella-covers;book-covers, sail-cloth,tents, roofing, flooring, tubing, boots anal shoes, and of all articles for which a. cheap, durable, and flexible water-proof fabric is desirable or suitable.

It is obvious that the various plans of making my water-proof fabric are but one and the some general idea of uniting the riifi'ere'nt kinds of fibrous materials, as paper, cloth, leather, &c., it being simply a question of expediency or choice as to which plan shall be adopted, the choice of plan being dependent upon which ono of the special objects mentioned, or any other, for which the material, when done, is to be used, and the .eo venience of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The new woteppyoof fabric, produced by tho combination and treatment of paper, cloth, and leather, or similar articles, substantially as herein described, I

2. The process, as herein described, of combining and treating paper, cloth', and leather, or similar articles, for producing a. new Water-proof fabric, substantially as doscribed and for the purposes set forth.

R. o. LOWREY.

' Witnesses:

H. 13. Mom, E. P, H. QAPRON. I 

